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Chavis Family History

Chavis Name Meaning

Altered form of Chavers a surname of Irish and English origin. The surname Chavis is most common among African Americans. It is also characteristic of the Tuscarora and Lumbee Native American tribes of NC and is also associated with the Pee Dee Indians. Hispanic: altered form of Portuguese or Spanish Chaves . Jewish (from Ukraine): metronymic from the female personal name Khave the Yiddish form of the Biblical Eve. It is formed with the Yiddish possessive suffix -s.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Chaves, Chevis, Travis, Havis, Chavous, Chavers, Avis, Caris, Chavez

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Chavis family from?

You can see how Chavis families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Chavis family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Chavis families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 6 Chavis families living in Ontario. This was 100% of all the recorded Chavis's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Chavis families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Chavis surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Chavis ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Chavis. 33% of Chavis men worked as a Laborer and 18% of Chavis women worked as a Laborer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Chavis were Truck Driver and Laundress. .

View Census Data for Chavis | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    33%
  • Farmer
    26%
  • Farm Laborer
    10%
  • Truck Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    18%
  • Maid
    17%
  • Farm Laborer
    9%
  • Laundress
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Chavis family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 21,000 census records available for the last name Chavis. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Chavis census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Chavis

Passenger Lists

There are 828 immigration records available for the last name Chavis. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Chavis. For the veterans among your Chavis ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Chavis lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Chavis life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1948. The average life expectancy for Chavis in 1944 was 36, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Chavis

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